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leaning blueberry bushes

ian thenutian thenut Posts: 55
in Fruit & veg
Ive had these bushes for about 5 years, bought them when they were in 3ltr pots.
Probably not helping that i have never pruned them other than removing the dead twigs.

Anyway, as the pictures show, they are leaning quite a bit, when they get to this size am i supposed to use stakes to keep them upright or just cut them back?

The branch in the 2nd picture is solid and "doesn't want" to be straightened?

Any advice?



Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,294
    edited July 2018
    I've only been growing blueberries for the first time this year so I have little experience of them, but I've been pleasantly surprised how many delicious berries there are. Mine are also bending with the weight of fruit with quite a few clusters of berries at ground level (laying on upturned seed trays)
    From what I understand it's best to keep pruning to a minimum as the fruits form at the ends of the twiggy branches.
    I guess with some selective pruning over the next 2-3 winters you could gradually shorten the really bendy one which should force buds to break lower on the stem, but I think it's in their nature to be like this.
    Once you have picked the berries I imagine the branch will right itself to some extent, you could then try lifting it a little and tying to a stake, then a couple of weeks later lift it a little more, then a little more. Best to do this early morning before the sap rises as the stems will be a bit more flexible.
    I've been turning my pots to try and get them a bit more bushy, but I think it's just that they grow as sprawly plants
    Looks a lovely crop you've got there - I'm surprised the blackbirds haven't enjoyed them

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,896
    We're growing blueberries for the first time this year so I'm keeping an eye on this thread.

    So far we've been basing our care of the bushes on this 

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/growfruitandveg_growingblueberries1.shtml

     :) 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Logan4Logan4 Posts: 2,585
    The taller varieties do need support.
    I'd do what @Pete8 says. They will lean a bit anyway. I only prune out dead branches. Some years you won't get as many fruit, that's why we buy more plants. Got 23 so far, don't think we have any more space because they're in containers.

    Also the black birds like them, have to cover them with fleece.
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